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CELTIC

With Celtic currently 13 points ahead of Rangers at the top of the table, Neil Lennon believes his side would have to be awarded the title if the remaining fixtures were not fulfilled.

Celtic boss Lennon said: "If it was to stop now I would doubt very much that they would say it was null and void.

"It could be death by a thousand cuts. We have played over 30 games, that's well over two thirds of the season so we should be declared champions.

“Certainly, if you are talking about the Armageddon of the league being cancelled or stopped, it should go on the average points total which would make us clear champions and rightly so.

"We are over 30 games into the season, they are not going to take that away from us."

RANGERS

His Ibrox counterpart Steven Gerrard told Rangers TV: "I'm in regular contact with the board and the club on a daily basis to see what happens, but I think we've got to try and trust the authorities to try and find the right solutions.

“I’m not one who thinks we should be merging seasons and this type of stuff, because I think that adds different types of problems to the players, playing too much football in such a short space of time.

“I don’t think the right thing to do is to all of a sudden play all the games behind closed doors. I don’t think that’s fair at all.

“So we’ll have to wait, we’ll have to be patient and let’s hope that at some point there is a solution found out but I certainly don’t have the answers in that department.”

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A club statement on Monday afternoon clarified the club’s stance on awarding Celtic the title without all 38 games having been played. The statement from Managing Director Stewart Robertson read: "Rangers are continuing to monitor the ongoing situation regarding Coronavirus and its impact on football at all levels.

"I reiterate Steven Gerrard’s comments this morning that football is secondary to the health and well-being of the citizens of the United Kingdom.

"Life is precious and as a society, we must endeavour to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable in our community. As a club, we will continue to follow government guidelines and advice relating to the health and safety of all members of staff.

"It is our firm view that this season’s league competition (2019/20) is only complete when all 38 games are played by all teams.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we believe that final standings can only be confirmed when all games have been completed, not before.

"Any attempt to finish the season with a significant amount of games still to play, impacts upon the integrity of sport in Scotland.

"Furthermore, we are strongly opposed to playing games behind closed doors. Rangers fans have stuck by our club in the darkest of times. Their loyalty will not be forgotten and they will not be left behind.

"We are cognisant of the uncertainty surrounding the future of many businesses and peoples jobs because of a potential lengthy extended break.

"We must be mindful that football goes well beyond the result of a match. Football brings us all together, it provides countless people with a livelihood and we will work to ensure no one runs roughshod over people’s lives.

"We will continue to maintain a watchful eye on the decisions of football's governing bodies. Let me reassure the fans that we will not be found wanting in this situation."

SFA/SPFL

Earlier this month, the SFA and SPFL joined forces to form a Coronavirus Response Group.

On Monday afternoon, they released a statement saying: “The SPFL Board has today postponed the playing of Ladbrokes League fixtures pending any Government order and/or further direction from the Scottish FA.

"The Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup final, scheduled for 28 March, is also postponed on the same basis.”

SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “The significant challenges being faced by people all over the country have put sport firmly in perspective.

"However, we have a responsibility to deal with the many difficult issues caused by this outbreak and are working hard with the Scottish FA, with our clubs, and with Government departments to arrive at the best possible outcome for our game.

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“We are very conscious of the desire of all 42 Ladbrokes SPFL clubs and their fans to know, as soon as possible, of our plans for the league, but everyone recognises we are facing what is arguably the most challenging time in our sport’s history.

“There are undoubtedly going to be further challenges ahead, but everyone involved is pulling together as one and we will continue to make decisions in the very best interests of the game as a whole.”